The 19-item PSQ assesses parents' cognitions and perceptions regarding the degree and kind of support they provide to their child following the discovery of sexual abuse. The measure yields a total score and scores on Support and Blame subscales.

Domain(s) Assessed :

Parent, Caregiver, Family Mental Health & Functioning

Language(s) :

English

Measure Type:

General Assessment

# of Items:

19

Measure Format:

Questionnaire

Average Time to Complete (min):

5

Reporter Type:

Parent/Caregiver

Average Time to Score (min):

2

Response Format:

5-point scale: 0=never to 5=always

Materials Needed:

Paper/Pencil

Sample Item(s):

Domains

Scale

Sample Items

Support

Have you encouraged your child to tell you how she feels about the sexual abuse?

Have you tried to make your child feel safe and secure since she reported the sexual abuse?

Blame

Do you ever think your child could have stopped the sexual abuse if she wanted to?

Have you criticized or punished your child for anything she did (or didn't do) regarding the abuse?

Studies that have examined the relation between PSQ scores and other measures of child functioning have somewhat contradictory results. Although Mannarino & Cohen (1996) report significant correlations with the Weekly Behavior Report Scores, they found no significant correlations with measures of child symptomatology (Children's Depression Inventory, State Trait Anxiety Inventory-STAIC, Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale, Child Sexual Behavior Inventory, CBCL). However, a later study found that PSQ support and total scores were negatively correlated with STAIC State scores, and PSI Blame and Total scores were negatively related to scores on the CDI (Cohen & Mannarino,2000).

The PSQ has been found to be sensitive to change due to treatment, with parents of children treated with Trauma-Focused CBT showing greater changes than did parents of children treated using non-directive supportive therapy (Cohen, Deblinger, Mannarino, & Steer, 2004).

Criterion Validity:

Not Known

Not Found

Nonclinical Samples

Clinical Samples

Diverse Samples

Predictive Validity:

Yes

Postdictive Validity:

Overall Psychometric Limitations:

1. Psychometrics are limited but promising. More research is needed.2. Additional testing of the psychometrics is being conducted by the authors and colleagues.

Population Information

Population Used For Measure Development:

(Mannarino & Cohen, 1996) Pilot data were gathered on parents of 50 sexually abused girls aged 7-12. No demographic data were provided. Psychometrics were examined with female caregivers of 77 sexually abused girls who were referred to treatment within 6 months of the most recent sexual abuse incident. Girlswere aged 7-10 (M=10); 48% were African American or bi-racial. No other demographics were provided on mothers or girls (Cohen & Mannarino, 1996).

Measure has demonstrated evidence of reliability and validity in which populations?:

Sexual Abuse

Pros & Cons/References

Pros:

1. Psychometrics are promising, especially the ability of the measure to detect change related to treatment and to detect differences between two treatments.2. The measure is brief and easy to complete.3. The measure is free.

Cons:

1. The measure is psychometrically young. More research is needed examining its psychometrics, its use by other researchers, and its use with ethnically diverse populations.

References:

A PsychInfo literature search (6/05) for "Parental Support Questionnaire" or "PSQ"anywhere revealed that the measure has been referenced in1 peer-reviewed journal article.An additional 3 articles were identified while reviewing the literature.